The Truth About Lord Stoneville

Hellions of Halstead Hall - Book 1

By Sabrina Jeffries

Pocket - February 2010

Historical Romance


As Sabrina Jeffries states, her School for Heiresses series left her with several unattached characters. This series starts with one such character we had thought might be the mysterious "Cousin Michael", but wasn't. If you haven't finished that series, and don't want to know any spoilers, then you should wait to read this review and book. At the same time, if you are a new Sabrina Jeffries reader, this is the perfect place to start.

Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, had spent his entire adult life proving he was his father's son. Unfortunately, his siblings were just as reckless, and now their grandmother had made an ultimatum. They each had to find a spouse within a year. No exceptions. Oliver decided he would find the most unsuitable woman and pretend an engagement until he beat his grandmother at her own game. He ended up finding Maria Butterfield in a brothel. Granted he knew she was only there by accident, but he would use her to his advantage.

Maria had come to England to find her missing fiance who needed to return to America. Her father had died, and she and Nathan needed to marry. Unfortunately, she finds that the only way to find Nathan is to make a deal with a marquess. She would pretend that they were engaged, and he would hire someone to look for her real fiance. Oliver stated from the outset of having no qualms of using anyone for any purpose. He was no gentleman. Maria quickly saw the caring man behind the rogue Oliver had carefully crafted.

Readers are certainly cheering that Ms Jeffries has continued her School for Heiresses series with the Hellions of Halstead Hall series. Poignant, caring, rakish, and a hellion, Oliver was the perfect hero to start this series. He falls so hard for Maria, and is certain that he doesn't deserve her. Readers will enjoy watching him evolve and break free of his past. I adored all of his family - and am eager for each of his siblings to meet their fate. I am also looking forward to revisiting other characters we had met before in the Heiress series. Thank you Ms Jeffries for continuing this beloved series in this new direction.

Kathy Andrico - ReaderToReader.com

 

FTC Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of the book from Reader To Reader for review. However, this website only posts "good" reviews. If I cannot post a positive review, I notify whoever has provided me with the book/ARC/ebook.